European Brain Council (EBC)

Walking the Talk for Dementia
2023-05-01 - 2023-05-06
Walking the Talk for Dementia is an innovative, adventurous and immersive experience involving people working, researching and living with dementia.
Dementia is a pressing issue for our lifetime, and society needs to be responsive to ensure that people can live with more dignity and access to services and resources despite their diagnosis. The project’s main aim was to show that people are living with dementia despite the diagnosis, challenges and stigma, and that together we can rethink the way society perceives this community. The program brought together representatives from more than 20 countries on a 50km journey on the world’s most famous pilgrimage, Santiago de Compostela, followed by a scientific symposium led by people living with dementia.
EBC was deligthed to be part of the Walking the Talk for Dementia Symposium and participate in the session “Building an ecosystem: Connecting for thriving” on 5 May 2023. Dominika Suchonova, Communications & Advocacy Officer (European Brain Council), presented the work made in the context of the RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease project, calling for change in Alzheimer’s care. RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease is a research-driven project offering policy recommendations to make tangible changes with the aim to improve the lives of people living with Alzheimer’s disease across Europe.
Following the 50km Camino journey, a documentary will be produced, sharing the experiences of seven people living with dementia from six countries who participated in the event.

Policy Webinar: Animals in Research and a Pledge for Science
2023-05-05 14:00 - 15:30 UTC
A policy webinar organised by the European Brain Council in collaboration with its member organisations the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) on the topic of Animals in Research and a Pledge for Science will be held on Friday, 5 May 2023 from 14:00-15:30 CET.
This webinar, featuring expert speakers, aims to provide insight on the current state of research policy in the European Union and how it affects the wider brain community, including people living with brain conditions. In line with EBC’s aim to speak with one voice for the entire community, EBC and its member organisations find it important to involve all relevant stakeholders in its policy and advocacy work. With topics such as the use of animals in research gaining traction at the political level and widespread communication channels, we want to ensure that the community is aware of the implications for brain research.
Furthermore, in mid May, members of the EBC community will take part in a day of visits with Members of the European Parliament to shed light on a number of important issues affecting the wider brain community and calling for a Pledge for Science – for innovation, prioritisation and overall support for the space. This webinar aims to prepare anyone wishing to gain further knowledge on key policy hot topics so important for the community’s advocacy work.
Please register for the webinar here. Programme details below:
14:00-14:10
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Prof. Suzanne Dickson, President, European Brain Council
14:10-14:30
The European Citizens Inititiave – a threat to patient health?
Kirk Leech, Executive Director, European Animal Research Association (EARA)
14:30-14:45
Advantages and limitations of animal- and non-animal methods
Dr Sabine Hölter-Koch, Head of the Behavioural Unit at the German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München (Germany) and Chair, Preclinical Data Forum Network, European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP)
14:45-15:00
The use of animals in the research investigating the application of deep brain stimulation strategies to treat addiction
Dr Christelle Baunez, Chair, Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Committee on Animals in Research (CARE)
15:00-15:20
Open Discussion and Q&A with Audience
Moderated by Stephanie Kramer, Head of Communications, Advocacy & Policy, European Brain Council
15:20-15:30
Concluding Remarks

European Brain Health Summit 2023
2023-05-09 17:00 - 20:00 UTC | Livestream
European Brain Health Summit 2023
Tuesday May 9, 2023, 17.00 – 20.00 CEST

The European Academy of Neurology (EAN) held two first Brain Health events in 2022: The Brain Health Summit in May in Vienna and the Brain Health Event at the European Parliament in December. Both events highlighted the importance of advocacy for neurology, alongside cooperation with national societies, international authorities, organisations, and other stakeholders.
This year’s Summit will focus on European Brain Health Summit: Precision neurology and prevention of neurological diseases.
Visit the website for more information:
Programme

Genomics of Brain Disorders
2023-05-17 - 2023-05-19 | Wellcome Genome Campus, UK, United Kingdom
We are pleased to announce the fourth conference on the Genomics of Brain Disorders. This meeting will bring together international scientists and clinicians working on neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases to compare approaches used and the emerging lessons from both categories of disease.
Psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression, and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, are placing an increasing burden on the developed world. Technical advances over the past few years, including genome-wide association and next-generation sequencing studies, have led to the discovery of many predisposing loci for both psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
The conference will synthesise these advances and challenges in the genomics of various brain disorders. This year’s programme will explore recent insights into complex variations and genetic architecture in these disorders. We will also include sessions to discuss emerging tools and technologies, including functional assays, long-read sequencing, single cell, organoids, and other modelling approaches. In addition, we will highlight the methods used in population studies and how genomics is driving new therapeutics.
We aim to organise this meeting as a hybrid conference – with on-site or virtual attendance. If you would like to be part of these discussions – consider submitting an abstract by 21 March 2023 and register by 18 April (in-person) or 9 May (virtual) 2023.
To promote more inclusive scientific discussions with international colleagues at our conferences, virtual delegates based in Lower and Middle-Income Countries can register for free.
Scientific Programme Committee:

Cornelis Blauwendraat – NIH/National Institute on Aging, USA
Kristen Brennand – Yale University, USA
Anders Børglum – Aarhus University, Denmark
Mina Ryten – UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK

Keynote speakers:

Sir John Hardy – UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL
Danielle Posthuma – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands

For registration and further information:
https://coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/genomics-of-brain-disorders-20230517/
Contact: conferences@wellcomeconnectingscience.org

9th Academy of National Brain Councils
2023-05-23 09:00 - 2023-05-24 17:00 UTC | Brussels, Belgium
The 9th Academy of National Brain Councils (NBCs) took place on 23-24 May 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. The annual meeting brought together NBCs representatives alongside prominent speakers and guests, in-person and remotely, from 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Serbia, Sweden and Turkey.
Read the event report

15th Congress of the European Paediatric Neurology Society (EPNS)
2023-06-20 - 2023-06-24 | Prague, Czech Republic
The 15th Congress of the European Paediatric Neurology Society (EPNS) will take place on 20-24 June 2023 in the Congress Center Prague.
The main highlight of the congress is “From genome and connectome to cure”. EPNS invites you to see how the latest trends in understanding pathophysiology of neurological diseases are being implemented in clinical practice. The field has traditionally focused on precise diagnostics; however, curative treatments were unavailable for a long time. Today, this trend is changing rapidly and novel therapeutic options in our field have brought hope to many families of children even with the most severe neurological conditions.
EBC looks forward to being part of the exhibition area where you will have a chance to learn more about our ongoing projects, upcoming events and activities.
Visit the official website and find out more!
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9th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology
2023-07-01 - 2023-07-04 | Budapest, Hungary
The 9th Annual Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) will take place on 1-4 July 2023 in Budapest (Hungary). The overarching theme of the congress is “Neurology beyond the Big Data”.
The EAN Congress will provide an unrivalled chance for our community to share a rewarding clinical and scientific experience. With the rich cultural tapestry of Budapest as our backdrop, we also have the ideal environment for establishing new contacts and friendships, and of course renewing old ones.
EBC looks forward to being part of the exhibition area and holding the following sessions:

1 July 2023, 11:00-11:30: Rethinking the management of brain disorders: Alzheimer’s disease and migraine (Scientific Theatre)
3 July 2023, 16:15-17:15: EAN-EBC TV Studio Special Session: European Advocacy in the Brain Space
4 July 2023, 13:13-13:16: The role of patient representatives in the optimization of Patient Care Pathways at European level: the PKU experience (ePoster)

Find out more on the official official website of the congress!

EAN Congress: Rethinking the management of brain disorders: Alzheimer's disease & migraine
2023-07-01 11:00 - 11:30 UTC | Budapest, Hungary
The European Brain Council (EBC) is pleased to hold a Scientific Theatre on “Rethinking the management of brain disorders: Alzheimer’s disease & migraine” on 1 July 20223 at 11:00 – 11:30 during the 9th Annual Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Budapest (Hungary).
Despite improvements and innovation in recent years, people living with brain conditions, neurological and mental alike, face variations in access to optimal treatment and care. There is a lot about brain disorders that is not fully understood and the high-quality care and support needed by people living with these conditions is often unavailable.
The aim of the RETHINKING Projects is to develop policy priorities around challenges in brain disorders and present a consensus on what needs to be achieved to resolve the most pressing challenges in brain conditions, today and in the future. There is a clear need to rethink the management of the brain disorders and redesign the care pathways to ensure optimal treatment and care for all people living with brain disorders in Europe.
The speakers of the session will present how to rethink the way we manage Alzheimer’s disease and migraine in terms of their prevention, detection and diagnosis.
Find out more about the sessionSpeakersDr. Kristian Steen Frederiksen, Co-chair, EAN Scientific Panel Dementia and Cognitive Disorders, European Academy of Neurology
Dr. Michela Tinelli, Assistant Professorial Research Fellow and NIHR SSCR Leadership Fellow, London School of Economics, London School of Economics

EAN-EBC TV Studio Special Session: European Advocacy in the Brain Space
2023-07-03 16:15 - 17:15 UTC
EBC looks forward to being part of the 9th European Academy of Neurology congress, to be held on 1-4 July, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary with a TV studio special session centred around its advocacy work for the brain. This session, taking place on 3 July 2023 at 16:15-17:15 CET and led by members of the Executive Committee of the European Brain Council, will analyse the current state of advocacy in the brain space at the European level and explore not only the importance of the work being done but the potentials for strengthened collaboration and the needs going forward, for the benefit of all within the brain space, particularly with a spotlight on neurology and neurological conditions (including the clinicians that treat them and the patients that live with them). The discussion will cover the work being done by EBC and its key member organisations (in particular, EAN), the inclusion of the patient voice, advocacy and policy work being done at the global and European levels and the added value of speaking with one voice.
Speakers:
Advocacy in the Brain Space: Introduction of the European Brain Council – Prof. Suzanne Dickson (EBC President)
Advancing the neurology agenda at the European level – Prof. Claudio Bassetti (EBC Vice President)
The importance of the patient voice and a cross-disciplinary approach – Dr Orla Galvin (EBC Treasurer)
The livestream can be watched through the link below:
Livestream

EAN Congress: The role of patient representatives in the optimization of Patient Care Pathways at European level: the PKU experience
2023-07-04 13:13 - 13:16 UTC
EBC looks forward to presenting an ePoster on 'The role of patient representatives in the optimization of Patient Care Pathways at European level: the PKU experience' on 4 July 2023 at 13:13 – 13:16 at screen A2 in the Poster Area in the Exhibition Hall.
Authors
Cannizzo S, Quoidbach V, Treacy EP, Lange E, Sheehan-Gilroy B, Hagedorn T, Turchetti G
Introduction
In defining and optimising patient care pathways (PCPs) the role of patient representatives (PRs) is very important; it is crucial in the contest of rare diseases where the complexity of the disorders is higher, co-morbidity and multi-organ involvement are present, multidisciplinary care is needed, and patients may experience inequality in the access to specialised diagnostic/treatment procedures. In this work we have analysed the role of PRs in the design and optimization of Phenylketonuria's (PKU) PCP.
Methods
We applied RarERN PathÓ methodology to PKU PCP within the Value of Treatment (VOT) for Rare Brain Disorders project, coordinated by the European Brain Council. PRs of PKU Associations of Ireland and Germany were involved. The PCPs in place in centers of excellence (COE) were analysed, and patients provided input through a semi-structured questions survey exploring organization of care and perception of criticalities when receiving healthcare services. A first draft of the optimized PCP for PKU was discussed in a plenary meeting attended by neurologists and PRs. Finally, PRs were requested to provide additional suggestions through a second ad-hoc survey.
Results
PRs contributed to the design of an optimized PCP, providing unique information on the main organizational challenges in COEs and on the coordination of care between COE and non-hospital care at European level.
Conclusion
To formally involve PRs in the co-design of the PCP is necessary because it allows to complement clinicians' perspective about "ranking" and "weight" of what really matters throughout the PCP. PKU case is particularly interesting in this respect.
Author details

Cannizzo Sara, Institute of Management, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
Quoidbach Vinciane, European brain Council, Brussels, Belgium
Treacy Eileen P, National Centre for inherited Metabolic Disorders, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Eric Lange, The European Society for Phenylketonuria and allied disorders
5. Sheehan-Gilroy Bernadette, PKU Association of Ireland and Munster Technological University Kerry Campus, Tralee, Ireland.
6. Hagedorn Tobias, German PKU and Allied Disorders Patients Association DIG PKU, European Society for Phenylketonuria & Allied Disorders
7. Turchetti Giuseppe, Institute of Management, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy

Find out more

11th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience
2023-09-09 - 2023-09-13 | Granada, Spain
The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and the Spanish Neuroscience Society are excited to announce that the 11th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience will be hosted by SENC at the Granada Exhibition and Conference Centre from 9-13 September 2023.
Spain has a strong neuroscience tradition with the legacy of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, and is now home to many internationally acclaimed brain research institutions including the Cajal Institute in Madrid, the Institute of Neuroscience in Alicante, the Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Barcelona and the Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, to name only a few. The Spanish Neuroscience Society (SENC) strengthens this extensive research network with its numerous activities and more than 1000 members. In 2018, the Global Innovation Index also listed Spain as the 28th most innovative country in the world, further emphasizing a strong national commitment to science and innovation.
EBC looks forward to hosting the following sessions:

Special Event on Fostering Global Dialogue and Partnerships in Brain Research, 11 September 2023, 12:10-13:10, Room ALBENIZ + МАCHUCA
Workshop: How Should the Neuroscience Community Deal with Pressure to Reduce the Use of Animals in Research, 12 September 2023, 12:10-14:10, Sala U2

Find out more on the IBRO Congress website!
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EBC Special Event at IBRO2023: Fostering Global Dialogue and Partnerships in Brain Research
2023-09-11 12:10 - 13:10 UTC
EBC will host a Special Event on 11 September 2023 at the upcoming IBRO World Congress in Granada, Spain, focused on FOSTERING GLOBAL DIALOGUE AND PARTNERSHIPS IN BRAIN RESEARCH.
Enhancing global collaboration in the domain of research and innovation is key for effectively addressing today’s societal challenges and improving the health and well-being of citizens. This is particularly true for brain disorders, including both neurological and mental conditions, which are widespread and highly disabling diseases that are often difficult to treat. It is crucial to explore how global research collaboration can support brain research in a meaningful way, to the benefit of people living with brain conditions across the globe.
In line with its ongoing Global Partnerships in Brain Research work, this EBC session will focus on funding, which is often identified as a much-needed area for action in research and faces major discrepancies at the global level. A panel of global experts representing private funding, public funding and research from high-income countries/regions (HIC) and low-middle income countries/regions (LMIC) will speak on existing funding opportunities, address the current challenges, and explore how funding streams that exist nationally, regionally and internationally can be maximised for researchers.
Speakers:
Bradley Roberts, Research Manager, Wellcome Trust (UK) Confirmed
Dr George E. Barreto, Committee Member, IBRO Latin America Regional Committee (IBRO-LARC) and Lecturer in Cell Biology/Immunology, University of Limerick (Ireland) Confirmed
Antonella Autino, Programme Manager, Partnerships for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), Confirmed
Sandra Jurado, Director, Department of Cellular Neurobiology and Systems Neuroscience Institute (CSIC-UMH), Spain, Confirmed

Moderated by: Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director, European Brain Council (Belgium) Confirmed

How Should the Neuroscience Community Deal with Pressure to Reduce the Use of Animals in Research? - Workshop at IBRO World Congress 2023
2023-09-12 12:10 - 14:10 UTC
The use of animals in scientific research remains a contentious issue. There is growing political pressure in Europe and the USA for the scientific community to transition towards ‘animal free science’. At the same time perhaps more than in any other field of biomedical research, it is currently essential to use animals to understand the functions of the brain, both in basic research and in drug testing. The benefits of the use of animals in research were also evident in the speedy development of the Covid-19 vaccines, revealing that scientific advances are currently not able to replace animal use across all research and therapeutic areas. How should the neuroscience community address these potentially conflicting pressures? This topic will be addressed during this two-hour workshop by scientists who use animals in scientific research, those who use non-animal models and a European advocacy groups, who will provide evidence of how the neuroscience community is seeking to improve communication to the public on the use of animals in research.
Programme:
12:10-12:40 Animal Research: Time to Talk!
Kirk Leech, Executive Director, EARA
12:40-13:10 Response to the European Citizens’ Initiative to Phase Out Animal Experimentation in the EU by the European Brain Council
Prof. Suzanne Dickson, President, European Brain Council
13:10-13:40 A Journey of Animal Neuroscience Research Advocacy in The Netherlands
Prof. Judith Homberg, Radboud University
13:40-14:10 Roundtable Discussion
Prof. Roger Adan, UMC Utrecht Brain Center
Prof. Jose L. Lanciego, Head of the Functional Neuroanatomy Basal Ganglia Lab of the Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra
Prof. Sandra Acosta Verdugo, Universitat de Barcelona
All details available on the IBRO World Congress website: here.

Global Partnerships in Brain Research - Brain Health & Research Day at the Science Summit @ UNGA78
2023-09-18 09:00 - 18:30 UTC | Harvard Club of New York City, 35 W 44th St, New York, NY, 10036, United States
As part of the European Brain Council (EBC)’s Global Partnerships in Brain Research activities, EBC, in collaboration with the Baker Institute for Public Policy, the Brain Capital Alliance, the Brain Health Nexus and supporting partners will organise an event at the Science Summit at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) on 18 September 2023 at the Harvard Club of New York City.
In line with the Science Summit’s core focus of examining policy, regulatory and financial environments needed to implement and sustain the science mechanisms required to support global scientific collaborations, the Brain Research Day will highlight the existing partnerships, roadmaps and potentials of extended global collaboration specifically in the brain area, in the case of neuroscience but also in addressing brain disorders, neurological and mental alike.
Across the globe, society is facing brain challenges like never before—improving the health and well-being of citizens has become the top priority for many governments and brain health should not be left behind. Brain disorders, neurological and mental alike, are pervasive and pernicious diseases that are often difficult to treat. Enhancing global brain research collaboration can spur innovation and quicken effective outcomes to the benefit of people living with brain conditions everywhere.
Over the last few years, EBC has served as a convener for experts in the brain community to share best practices, exchange ongoing work and align priorities to forge a joint path forward to understand and address the brain rather than in silos across continents. Two main discussions took place over the last year, first at the SSUNGA77 in New York in September 2022 followed by a full-day event in Brussels on the occasion of Brain Awareness Week, where it was determined that coming together and addressing global partnerships in a united, concrete manner was an ideal and vital next step to tackle the global burden of brain disorders together.
In order to move past discussion and work towards explicit and tangible next steps in solidifying global efforts in brain research, EBC proposes a full day event in order to cover a number of important areas for action, with as many relevant actors involved, to build towards a Call to Action and Policy Recommendations on Global Partnership in Brain Research to guide national, regional and global policymakers towards better addressing brain health in the future, particularly as they prepare for the post-Sustainable Development Goals era (during the Summit of the Future 2024 and the High Level Conference on the UN NCD Strategy 2025).
View the final programme here and watch the livestream here.
For more information and to inquire about attendance, please contact Stephanie Kramer, Head of Communications, Advocacy and Policy at EBC: stkr@braincouncil.eu

Brain Capital Building @ UNGA: Brain Deals to Harness AI and Drive SDG Implementation by 2030
2023-09-19 08:15 - 18:00 UTC | Steelcase WorkLife Center, 4 Columbus Circle, New York, NY, 10019, United States
This conference will present the novel concept of ‘Brain Capital’ which puts a premium on cognitive skills and abilities in accomplishing socio-economic objectives. Building Brain Capital is fundamental for meeting modern societal challenges and driving innovation. The concept has been elaborated by the Neuroscience-inspired Policy Initiative launched by the OECD. Following its success, the Brain Capital Alliance has now been formed to continue this work toward impact. Given their scope, Brain Deals – large-scale and brain science inspired policy strategies can harness advanced AI and boost the implementation of several SDGs at the national and global levels. The model of the Brain Deal was recently noted in a Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Brief here. The event will focus on how Brain Deals can support SDG implementation by 2030.
See programme below:
Brain Capital Building @ UNGA78

EBC Keynote | Value of Treatment Case Study: Chronic Pain Disorders
2023-09-20 12:30 - 13:30 UTC | EFIC 2023 Congress, Budapest, Hungary
During the 2023 European Pain Federation EFIC Congress, Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council, will deliver a keynote for the session titled “VoT Chronic Pain – Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Interdisciplinary Multimodal Chronic Pain Management”.
The session will discuss more value-based and patient-centred care, outline the best practice healthcare intervention, and promote optimised healthcare interventions.
This will be the occasion to highlight the work done by the EBC-led Value of Treatment (VoT) project. EBC conceptualised in 2015 the Value of Treatment research framework with a first VOT study to address current unmet needs in healthcare and the increasing all-age burden of brain disorders – both neurological and mental alike. Direct healthcare and non-medical costs of brain disorders are high, making up for 60% of the total costs (40% attributable to lost productivity) – which EBC estimated at 800 bln€/year in Europe (Gustavsson et al. in the European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2011). All types of costs increase with the severity and the chronification of the disease. Budgetary restrictions across the EU are threatening the sustainability of the European social welfare model as a whole and make it even more important to achieve cost-effectiveness in the use of resources in health systems and its deliverables. In particular, challenges are multiple because of the medical, social and economic impacts of chronic disabling conditions. Together these emphasise the need for an ambitious patient-empowering research policy and an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to brain disorders.
Access the preliminary agenda

The Congress of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies
2023-09-24 - 2023-09-28 | Barcelona, Spain
We would like to welcome you all to Barcelona for the EANS2023 Annual Congress. This will take place during 24th and 28th of September, which coincides with the finale of Barcelona’s local festivities.
It will be our great honour and privilege to host you in what is probably one of the most fantastic cities in Europe and the world.
The congress will be themed “Neurosurgery and Technology at the service of Humanity”. We are designing a program based on technological advances and how these can be effectively utilised in order to support healthcare in Low-and Middle-Income Countries. Global neurosurgery is high on the EANS agenda and we are committed to playing our role, complementing international initiatives to help patients and colleagues in countries with less fortunate circumstances. The program will involve a special symposium which will bring together several of the key stakeholders in the field of global neurosurgery, aiming at creating the foundations for synergy and cooperation towards our common goal.
Barcelona will provide everyone the opportunity to enjoy the culture of the city, the gastronomy, and its renowned architecture. With daily after congress interactions with local historians, tourist guides, and sommeliers, we can’t wait to share with you our latest discoveries of the city, and hope to make your excursions unique, memorable, and indeed a great experience for everyone.
Barcelona and EANS are looking forward to welcoming you to our 2023 Congress.
Visit the congress website

EBC Session at EANS2023: The need for advocacy for brain research and brain health in Europe
2023-09-24 16:30 - 18:30 UTC
This session, led by key members of the Executive Committee, Board and community of the European Brain Council, will introduce the advocacy work in the brain space undertaken at the European level and explore not only the importance of the work being done but the potentials for strengthened collaboration and the needs going forward, for the benefit of all within the brain space, particularly with a spotlight on neurosurgery, neurology and neurological conditions (including the clinicians that treat them and the patients that live with them). The discussion will cover the work being done by EBC and its member organisations (in particular, EANS), the inclusion of the patient voice, advocacy and policy work being done and the added value of speaking with one voice at the political level.
Programme to follow

Rethinking Alzheimer’s disease: Moving towards a new Alzheimer’s disease detection and diagnosis pathway in Sweden
2023-09-26 09:00 - 11:00 UTC
Registration is now open for the virtual event Rethinking Alzheimer’s disease: Moving towards a new Alzheimer’s disease detection and diagnosis pathway in Sweden, taking place virtually on 26 September 2023 at 09:00 – 11:00.
The European Brain Council (EBC), in collaboration with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the Swedish Brain Foundation (SBF) and the Swedish Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (LIF), will explore the ways we can rethink the Alzheimer’s care pathway, particularly in the Swedish healthcare context.
The virtual event follows the launch of the Rethinking Alzheimer’s Disease White Paper: Detection & Diagnosis, looking at how to detect and diagnose the disease at an earlier stage (at mild cognitive impairment – MCI – stage) and what new care pathways would need to be implemented to reach out to patients at that stage. Furthermore, with disease modifying treatments targeting patients with MCI potentially coming to market in the near future, it is important to see how prepared healthcare systems are to provide these new treatments.
The programme will feature keynote speeches on daily life living with Alzheimer’s disease and how we can rethink the Alzheimer’s care pathway, a panel discussion featuring key opinion leaders and experts involved in the Rethinking Alzheimer’s disease project, and much more. Follow the EBC social media channels (Twitter, LinkedIn) and dedicated newsletter for all the latest updates!
Discover the programmeRegister nowPractical information
Date: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Time: 09:00 – 11:00 (Brussels time)
Location: livestream
Registration: Please register here
All participants must register before attending this event. Once registered, Zoom instructions will be sent via email closer to the date.
Rethinking Alzheimer's disease - Virtual event - Sweden - 26 September 2023 - Programme

36th European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress
2023-10-07 - 2023-10-10 | Barcelona, Spain
The annual ECNP Congress is Europe’s premier scientific meeting for disease-oriented brain research, annually attracting more than 5,000 psychiatrists, neuroscientists, neurologists and psychologists from around the world.
This year, the 36th ECNP Congress will take place on 7-10 October 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.
ECNP is an independent scientific association dedicated to the science and treatment of disorders of the brain. It is the largest non-institutional supporter of applied and translational neuroscience research and education in Europe.
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Side Event on Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - The perspective of patient organisations | Conference on Rare diseases and the European Reference Networks
2023-10-10 - 2023-10-11
The conference on Rare diseases and European reference networks will be organised under the auspices of the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council and in cooperation with the authorities of the Basque Country. It will take place on 11th October 2023 in the Euskalduna Conference Centre in Bilbao, Spain. Interpreting will be provided from/to Spanish- German-English-French-Basque, webstreaming in English and Spanish is foreseen.
On 10th October, the day before the Conference on Rare diseases and the European Reference Networks, the European Economic and Social Committee will organise a side event on a neurodegenerative disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in cooperation with the authorities of the Basque Country.
The aim of the event is to raise awareness about ALS and its impact on the life of patients and their families, review the progress made in research to provide better treatment and better care, and inform on actions developed at European level, such as the EU ALS Coalition.
Vinciane Quoidbach, Public Health and Policy Research Project Manager at EBC, will take part in a session on “Action at European level” on 10th October at 17:00 – 18:00. She will highlight the need to pursue the intense research being conducted in many areas related to ALS, from basic science seeking the roots of the disease to therapy development to find effective treatments. She will also share the outcomes of the EU Action Plan on Rare Diseases, published in the framework of the Value of Treatment project, coordinated by EBC. Follow the livestream!

All in one brain: a discussion on mental health event in the European Parliament
2023-10-10 16:30 - 18:30 (Europe/Helsinki) | Brussels, Belgium
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, it is our great pleasure to invite you to the conference hosted by MEP Stelios Kympouropoulos (Greece, EPP) entitled “All in one brain: a discussion on mental health“, with the participation of the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Ms Stella Kyriakides and the Deputy Minister of Health and psychiatrist Dr. Dimitris Vartzopoulos. The conference will take place on 10 October 2023 at the European Parliament in Brussels, in room SPINELLI 3E2 from 16.30 to 18.30 CET and will be accessible online.
In the first panel, with the participation of Ms Kyriakides and Dr. Vartzopoulos, the political discussion will focus on the on the European Commission’s Communication on Mental Health, published on 7 June 2023, and the European Parliament’s Report on Mental Health, where MEP Kympouropoulos is the shadow rapporteur for EPP. The discussion will join MEP Susana Solis Perez, the Renew shadow rapporteur.
The second panel will be joined by the President of the Hellenic Brain Council, Dr. Christina Dalla, member of the Board of Directors at the European Brain Foundation (EBF), and will focus on the value of early diagnosis, treatment, and innovative research methods.
In the last panel, the discussion will focus on digital technologies and the role they can play in mental health. Professor Elisabeth Steindl will start with a comparative analysis of the legislative framework outside the EU and comment on the new opportunities presented by the European Parliament report. Then Professor Richard Rak will present telehealth solutions and evidence-based practices for mental health, while highlighting the importance of data collection through the latest developments in the legal framework, including the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
Finally, the conference will close with the presentation of the digital application “Thymia” by CEO Ms Emilia Molimpakis. This app helps to identify mental health conditions and symptoms using voice, movement and behavioural data.
The discussion will be moderated by Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council (EBC).
To register in person please press here. To register online please press here.
For more information please contact stelios.kympouropoulos-office@europarl.europa.eu
We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Brain Innovation Days: The Brain in the 21st Century
2023-10-26 - 2023-10-27 | Brussels, Belgium
The 3rd edition of the Brain Innovation Days team will take place on 26-27 October 2023 in Brussels (Belgium) under the overarching theme “The Brain in the 21st Century”, centred around building resilience and better brain health for future generations and increasing our brains’ readiness to adapt to an ever-changing environment.
Five sub-themes will inspire an exciting array of sessions throughout the two full days:

Resilient Brains: The Impact of Political, Societal, and Environmental Factors
Boosting Brain Health and Preventing Brain Disorders
What’s New? Innovative devices, substances and medicines for brain disorders
The Self-Healing Brain: Use it or Lose it
Towards a Brain Healthy 22nd Century

Like previous editions, get ready for two jam-packed days of high-level brain innovation – and this year we’re going bigger than ever! Look forward to Brain Talks, How-To sessions, sponsor-led satellite sessions, the 3rd Brain Innovation Days Pitch Competition, panel discussions with leading experts, an Innovation Hall and countless matchmaking/networking opportunities. Take a look at the Programme and find out more!
The Early Bird rates are now available for registration! Benefit from this discounted rate not only for individual tickets but also for Start-up Packages and Innovation Hall fees (when abstract decisions have been made). The Early Bird Rate is available until 4 June, so don’t wait too long.
Visit the Brain Innovation Days website

Meeting on quality of child and adolescent mental health care across the WHO European Region
2023-11-02 09:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Helsinki) | WHO Regional Office for Europe, Athens, Greece
On November 2, World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe will hold a ‘Meeting on Quality of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care across the WHO European Region’ in Athens.
EBC is a member of the Pan-European Mental Health Coalition, a partnership dedicated to improving mental health across the WHO European Region. It will target gaps in mental health services by gathering national leaders, professionals, members of civil society, representatives of international organizations and experts to collaborate on bringing mental health out of the shadows and into the mainstream.
Key priorities for the Coalition will be to transform mental health services and integrate mental health into emergency response and recovery efforts, as well as promoting mental health and preventing mental ill health across the life course.
More details and the draft programme can be accessed by clicking on the following button.
Access the programme

Migraine: What can Europe do to avoid neglecting unmet medical need
2023-11-07 08:30 - 09:30 UTC
The Parliament Magazine, in partnership with Abbvie, organised an event ‘Migraine: What can Europe do to avoid neglecting unmet medical need‘, which took place on 7 November 2023 at 08:30-09:30 in the European Parliament.
Migraine carries an annual economic burden of €27 billion and is one of the leading causes of disability. Despite the tangible unmet need, it is not consistently recognised as a medical burden, especially when it comes to preventative treatment. Migraine might not be deadly but it is debilitating.
Current policy proposals may offer an opportunity to address the challenges, but a risk remains in the newly proposed unmet medical need definition. As it stands, the definition may see migraine get deprioritised as recognition of the existing unmet need is brought into question.
How do we ensure that these approaches are well-defined and open the door to medical advances that leave no patient behind?
During the event part of the discussion centred around the following points:

How does the inconsistent recognition of migraine as a medical burden affect preventative treatment options and patient care?
What should be considered in the definition of unmet medical need to ensure patients suffering from migraine do not miss out following the revision of pharmaceutical legislation?
While Brussels’ renewed commitment to mental health is welcome, what more can the European Union do on a policy level to drive forward the commitments specific to brain health?

During the event, the outcomes and the policy recommendations of the Rethinking migraine project were highlighted. The aim of the project is to challenge the status quo and refreshes the European policy debate on people living with migraine, recognises the consequences of the burdens during the COVID-19 pandemic and encourages multi-stakeholder-driven policy. The project falls under #MigraineMyBrain campaign.
Learn more about the Rethinking migraine project

Good Off-Label Use Practices (GOLUP): Where are we? What next?
2023-11-14 08:00 - 09:30 (Europe/Paris) | European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, Brussels, 1047, Belgium
The European Brain Council (EBC) with support from the European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs (EUCOPE) will organise a breakfast meeting with the topic: ”Good off-label use practices: Where are we? What next?” in the European Parliament on November 14th from 08:00-09:30 CET . The event is hosted by MEP Stelios Kympouropoulos (EPP, Greece).
Good off-label use practices are often a necessity in areas of unmet medical need. The prevalence of off-label use in the EU in both the paediatric and adult population is high in a broad range of therapeutic areas such as rare diseases, oncology, psychiatry, neurology, in both hospitals and outpatient settings. Off-label practice poses a range of quite different challenges such as ethical and legal issues for healthcare professionals, increased risk for patients, patient information and consent. While not optimal but essential to address unmet medical needs, the manner in which countries deal with the off-label use of medicines is not harmonised across the EU.
In 2016, the Good Off-Label Use Practice (GOLUP) Declaration was launched, supported by a coalition of European organisations dedicated to ensuring that high standards of patient care are upheld and that progress in medical research and innovation is achieved. The Declaration put forward the basis for a harmonised approach on when and how off-label prescription should take place across Europe.
The Declaration put forward the basis for a harmonised approach on when and how off-label prescription should take place across Europe:

Presence of a medical therapeutic need based on a current examination of the patient by a suitably qualified health care professional;
Absence of authorised treatment and licensed alternatives tolerated by the patient or repeated treatment failure;
A documented review and critical appraisal of available scientific evidence favours off-label use to respond to the unmet medical need of the individual patient;
Patients (or their legal representative) must be given sufficient information about the medicines that are prescribed to allow them to make an informed decision;
Presence of established reporting routes for outcomes and adverse events linked to off-label use.

This event is timely, as the topic of repurposing has gathered attention with :

the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies Repurposing of authorised medicines pilot launched in 2021 to support not-for-profit organisations and academia to support the repurposing of medicines as a follow-up to the European Commission’s Expert Group on Safe and Timely Access to Medicines for Patients (STAMP) discussions on a proposal for a medicines repurposing framework,
the Spanish EU presidency event on the topic of ‘Repurposing and better use of clinical data’ on 27 September, in Madrid,
the revision of the pharmaceutical legislation with the Directive on medicinal products for human use looking inter alia at adverse reactions reporting in the case of off-label use products (Article 105) and unmet medical needs that are one reason and objective of the proposal (Exploratory memorandum and article 83) as well as the Regulation for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human use and the expected European Commission proposal on rare diseases.

The purpose of this event is to reconnect with the GOLUP Declaration promoters, exchange ideas and experiences to secure EU and national recognition of the Declaration with the ultimate goal to promote a common European approach for off-label use, call for and propose EU guidelines for the good use of off-label medicinal products.
Due to the limited number of available seats, invitation will be done on a first come – first served basis.
Should you be interested to attend, please click below to secure your place.
Learn more about the GOLUP initiative

SFCNS Swiss Brain Health Plan Kick-Off Meeting
2023-11-22 13:00 - 18:00 UTC | Zurich, Switzerland
The SFCNS Swiss Brain Health Plan Kick-Off Meeting will take place on November 22, 2023 from 13:00-18:00 at the Kunsthaus Zurich.
This Swiss Brain Health Plan implements the Swiss Brain Health Strategy in accordance with the EAN Brain Health Strategy, launched by the WHO and the European Academy of Neurology EAN in 2022.
The joint goal is awareness creation about brain health as a whole and to initiate prevention programs. The strategic task force of the Swiss Brain Health Plan consists of the about 50 authors of the publication «The Swiss Brain Health Plan 2023-2033».
The Swiss Brain Health Plan will be developed further by SFCNS as it involves many specialties of the neuro field. The goal of the Kick-Off Meeting is information and awareness creation among all stakeholders i.e. politics, hospitals, patient organizations, researchers, insurances, companies and finally the public.
Find out more about the eventDiscover the programme

EBC-Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU Event: Our Brains, Our Future
2023-11-28 08:30 - 13:30 UTC | Private: Spanish Senate, 3 Calle de Bailén, Madrid, 28013, Spain
Our Brains, Our FutureDate: 28 November 2023
Time: 08:30 – 13:30
Location: Spanish Senate, Madrid (Spain)
Programme (EN)Programme (ES)RegistrationSpeakersIn the framework of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Brain Council (EBC) will organize an event in the Senate of Spain this coming November 2023.
Among its list of priorities, the healthcare agenda of the Spanish Presidency places a strong emphasis on improving health outcomes and addressing pressing challenges within the European Union, including building towards the creation of a European Health Data Space (EHDS) to improve healthcare policies and research, disease prevention, health promotion, and tackling prevalent health issues, including mental illness.
Across the European Union and beyond, society is facing health-related challenges like never before. This is particularly true for brain disorders, neurological and mental alike, which are widespread, disabling, and difficult to treat. Improving the health and well-being of citizens has become the top priority for many governments and brain health should not be left behind. In fact, it is estimated that up to one billion people worldwide live with a neurological condition and 970 million people around the world were living with a mental health disorder as of 2019, with anxiety and depressive disorders the most common1. In Europe alone, approximately 60% of the population lives with a neurological condition2 and one in six citizens is affected by mental ill-health.
However, although in the last half century, the field of neuroscience and our knowledge of the brain has advanced considerably, many important aspects remain extremely elusive. Clearly, without a substantial increase in efforts and resources to promote fundamental understanding of the mechanisms that generate proper brain function, it will be impossible to design treatments that address the real pandemic of brain health, currently affecting a substantial part of world’s population. Moreover, Europe cannot ignore that this field of research holds immense appeal for a growing number of young minds, as the brain is one of the last unexplored frontiers.
The time to act is now and the Spanish Presidency priorities are a first concrete step towards increased awareness and action. Europe must take a central position in the global effort to unravel the mysteries of the brain, both through promoting fundamental scientific research and the practical and clinically beneficial application of the knowledge that basic research generates. Enhancing collaboration in the space can fast track us towards better understanding the brain through basic research, innovation in clinical research and treatment methods and effective outcomes to the benefit of people living with and affected by brain conditions.
The European Brain Council and its wide community of members and partners has served as a convener for experts in the brain research area and health space to raise awareness, share best practices, exchange ongoing work, align priorities and advocate for a real change: recognizing and prioritizing urgent intervention on the burden of brain disorders and building towards a brain healthy future for Europe and beyond.
This event will demonstrate just how important this prioritization is. Crucial elements in the complex chain from basic neuroscience to patient improved outcomes will be broken down and explored. Research into the space remains crucial yet underfunded and often misunderstood and neglected, which has a massive impact on the lives of patients. With greater prioritization and overhaul of brain research in Europe, we have the opportunity to foster a personalized approach when developing innovative therapeutic options and better address patient relevant outcomes.
This event will be bilingual. Sessions will take place in both English and Spanish – interpreters will be available for translation.
OrganisersHis Excellency Francisco Manuel Fajardo

Senate of Spain
Prof. Carlos Closa

Spanish National Research Council
Prof. Suzanne Dickson

European Brain Council
Prof. Juan Lerma

European Brain Council
Prof. Richard Morris

Edinburgh Futures Institute
Rosa Montero

Novelist
Prof. Rodrigo Quian Quiroga

Hospital del Mar
Prof. Giancarlo Comi

European Charchot Foundation
Dr. Usman Khan

Motor Neurone Disease Association
Tineke Mollema

GAMIAN-Europe
Dr. Mara Parellada

AMITEA Programme
Dr. Paola Zaratin

PROMS Initiative
Stephanie Hoffmann-Gendebien

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals
Prof. José Obeso

Centro Integral de Neurociencias AC
Dr. Mara Dierssen

Spanish Brain Council
Dr. José Luis Lanciego

PERC-IBRO
Cristina Maragall

Pasqual Maragall Foundation
Dr. Francisco Colomer Sanmartín

Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation
Frédéric Destrebecq

European Brain Council
Video MessageFor privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.I AcceptWith thanks to the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Insightec and Roche for supporting this event.
Event Booklet (EN)Event Booklet (ES)Registration

BRAINTEASER Webinar: Women in Multiple Sclerosis
2023-12-05 12:00 - 13:30 UTC
Join us for a online event that focuses on Women in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This webinar will provide valuable insights and information about the unique challenges and experiences faced by women with MS. Gain knowledge from renowned experts in the field and hear inspiring stories from women who are managing their MS. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with a supportive community and learn strategies to navigate the complexities of living with MS as a woman. Register now and empower yourself!
BRAINTEASER is a data science project that seeks to exploit the value of big data, including those related to health, lifestyle habits, and environment, to support patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis and their clinicians. Taking advantage of cost-efficient sensors and apps, BRAINTEASER will integrate large, clinical datasets that host both patient-generated and environmental data.
Register now!

17th European Headache Congress Headache: Expanding the Horizon
2023-12-06 - 2023-12-09
The 17th European Headache Congress (EHC) will take place from 6-9 December 2023, in Barcelona, Spain. Under the theme ‘Headache: Expanding the horizon,’ EHC 2023 aims to spotlight the latest advancements in headache research and its management. The event’s scientific agenda will encompass diverse sessions, educational courses, sponsored symposia, expert meetings, and poster presentations.
On December 6th, Michela Tinelli (London School of Economics – LSE) and Vinciane Quoidbach (European Brain Council – EBC) on behalf of the EBC-led Rethinking Migraine project will present a poster with the topic: ”Rethinking Migraine: will shifting the emphasis towards preventative treatment of migraine, using new CGRP-targeting medicines, be of added value to society from a health economics perspective?”.
RegistrationMore information
